Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-02-26
JAPANESE RELIGION.
Pagan Followers oftna Tsacfl-
;nCs OF Buidha.
Beautiful Buddhist Temples and shrinss
Built to Serpanss and Foxes.

~ oai~A pao00tL, iAc IEEulI sG2ISAk4l s
the doctrines of that faith, upon the
paganism which had formerly prevailed |
among the people. Their religion, says
the San ] Irapcisco Chronic,s, now en-
braces the belief in Buddhg Sakymuna-
the God man, his divinity, his saving
power, his heaven of perfect rest the |
Nirvana, the pagan demons, evil spirits, |
ghosts, witches and the belief in the |
supernatural powers OF certain animals.
Buddha is conceded BY al to have
lived on earth from 500 to 600 years
before the Christian era. The Budd-
hists say he was the son of virgin wife
named Maya, from divine conception;
that his coming and redemption Of the
world was foretold; that the ruler of the
country in which the mother lived sought
her life to prevent the fulfi.ment Of the
prophecy, and that she fled to another
country where Buddha was born; that
his birth was attended By supernatural
phenomena, and that wise men came to
worship him; that in his Youth he
showed such precocious wisdom as to
astonsh and confound learned philoso-
pliers; that in the carrying out OF >his
mission he often returned to the noun
tains with his followers for meditat;ons,
in one of which he tasted forty days and
nights; that he was tempted by one Of
the evil spirits, whom he rebuked and
drove away. After working many mira
cles and wonders and promugating his
doctrines. he died Upon his death all
nature mourned. IL the temples of the
japanese you may ace pictures Of the
dead RaSdha, the trees bowing their
heads aud shedding tears over him, all
the races Of people in the world in in
coasolabc grief, and representatives Of
the whole animal kingdom gathered to
mourn for him. In the clouds, the virgin
mother and her heavenly attendants are
seen conling down 70 meet her son and
escort him to Nirvana.
This belief, when introduced, rapidly
spread through the whole empire aud
Buddhist temples and shrines were built
on almost every hill and mountain side.
Some Of these temples are the tombs of
emperors and warriors, and in their con-
struction and surroundings are very
beautiful. Their wealth in wood carv-
ings frescoing and paintings are wonder
fu The ITycoons' temples and tonbs at
:. Nikko, so miles from TOXIC (Yeddo),
are decorated with regai splendor. Their
wood carvings represent the labor of
mar " lives, and the gliding of the
columns must have cost the revenues of
PROVINCES There are serpent shrines,
! where long stone images Of serpents may
! be seen, and where the people 80 and
implore these mummies not TO bite OF
charm thcm There arc also fox shrines,
where artificial den. and burrows have
been constructed, and where those cum
ming animals are fed, ard, they think,
conciliated. The belief in the super.
natural powers of these animals is still
uushaken. They ascr.be many ot thei
ills-such as sickness, death, drought
aud famines-to their i'll will, and In.
stead OF waging war OF determination
against them they attempt to conciiat
them. Sun and moon worship is still t
] be seen, and there are sun and moo!
= temples, built in places that affor'
beautiful views OF the first appearance o
these luminaries, as they rise over tn
mountains and ocean. One may sc
whole Siilages awaiting the rising sun
: to greet and welcome il with thanks 70
the past good and supplications for th
future. The Buddhist priests coun
their beads, shave their heads, aud hav
ing no families, are consecrated to thc
church. There arc nuns, monks sne
sisters Of different orders
There was a time when Japan wa
4iestridden. In Tokio IL 1857, in
population Of 1000, 900. there yere 25,
wv pE4eSES, bEsAISS A4-( AA1~ - ~@-H
other members .: various religious O,
ders Under the Tycooas the churc
and state were one, and the peop'e ha
to pay church tax The reTenaes c
; some Of the Buddhistic ordcrsksEere in
ncnss and they Owned vas: tracts {
land. The head Of tie church was
member Of tie Imperial family. At Il
time Of the revolution Of ISo8, 4
. church and state were completely L
/ vorced, shs church taxes abolished, an
4 tie contributions TO the church made eI
, t;rely voluntary Il Is impossible
forecast the religious failure o. Il
country. The establishment: o. schoo
! Il every part Of the enpi-t, tie Iatr
duction o. Occidental arts, sciences 81
A,eratu.s, and sis establishment O.